Trouser-leg support



Jan. 1, 1929.

w. H. STRINGFIELD mousna LEG surronw Filed March 21, 1928 I N YEN TLOR. r/ wvanao 5 M m m w A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

' iWILLI AMH.--SIRINGFIEID, or PH LADELPHIA;rEmrsYnwrNIn.

I :IROUSER-LEG' SUPPORT.

Application. filed March 21,1928, seriaillw. 263,383. I a

e invention :relates toha trouser leg. sup- 1 port adapted for use in undertaking establish- :ments in the preparationzofathe dead for burial, and more particularly to afpant leg 5 holder or pad adapted tobe positioned between the top of the leg ofthe-deceased: and .the trousers leg, to impart to the leg of the trousers a smooth andneat appearance not a otherwise obtainable. i It has been the practice heretofore in dressing a corpse for burialto stuffnewspapers or the like between the legs of the deceasedand ,the trouser legsto maintain the latter in propa enshape.

It is the object of my invention to provide means for. supportingean'd shaping the trouse-r legs of the deceased without the necessity of using paper or the like, which is not efficient or consonant with the dignity and som- 2 bre character of the occasion.

To the above ends, my invention consists in providing a novel trouser leg supporter holder composed of a pad or form of a generally elongated, convex shape, and tapering from the thigh end to the ankle end to suit the varying thicknesses of different portions of the trouser leg, said pad or form having spring clips or thelike at its forward end for holding the pad in place, said clips being adapted to engage the 'a-nklesof the deceased. For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying draw ings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice togive satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described. 7 p

In the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1, represents a perspective view of a portion of a trousers' leg support embodying my invention, showing also its manner of application. Figure 2, represents a longitudinal section on line 2*2, Figure 1, certainparts'being shown in elevation.

Figure 3, represents on'an enlarged scale a perspective view of my novel trousers leg support shown detached. Figure 4, represents a transverse section on line 44, Figure 3.

wardly, as will beunderstoo.d:from Figures 1 Similar numeralsof reference lDdlG-ittGzCOP- responding parts. I Y I 1 designates my novel construction of'a trousers leg support, the same comprising a bottom or base member or, body :portion v2, which may be of thin sheet metal,cardboard,

vulcanized fibre or any other-suitable stiff, 'rlgld or uny elding material. This body-portion is of concave contouri-atits-bottom and may be provided with the-reinforcements such as the longitudinaliflanges 3 ,an-dtheend flanges 4, which may .be separate from ;.the body or if desired may be integral with the body andare deflected outwardlyand then in- 3and4, :and serve to retain in place theedges 5 of the fabric covering 6, between which and said body 2 is a filling or stufling 7-, which may be cotton, felt or the like, as will'be understood from Figures 2 and 4.

The fabric 6 is preferably of dark or black material. and the general contour of the holder or support is tapering, that is, the outer longitudinal edges converge from the left of Figure 3, to the right thereof so that a stifl, elongated form is produced, which extends about from the thigh 8 or crotch of the corpse substantially to the ankle 9 thereof as indicated in Figure 2. The forward or right handend of the pad'or form 1 is provided with spring clips or clamps, as indicated at 10, which are adapted to engage the ankles of the corpse to secure the pad or form in position. The pants or trouser legs are indicated at 11. In the construction seen in Figures 2,3 and 4, the side and end reinforcements are formed of U-shaped members having the flanges 3 and 4, but as stated,said flanges maybe integral with the body if desired. The pad or form can be 5 first made from a flat blank and then bent to the desired contour, or it can be made curved as shown, and after the cover 6 and the filling 7 have been placed in position the edge and end reinforcements can be applied.-

It will be apparentthat afterthe corpseis otherwise prepared for burial and is i dressed, the pads or forms 1 can be readily slipped into the space between the thigh and leg and thetop of the trousers, whereupon the latter will appear neat and straight, as

seen in Figures 1 and 2 and will give to the legs a neat appearance. The pad form or holder can of course be constructed of a single thipkness of material if desired, and may will be caused to assume a neat and smooth appearance.

, By occupylng the space between the leg of the corpse and the leg of the trousers, my novel holder prevents the collapsing or wrin kling of the latter as will be "apparent.

It will thus be seen. that I have devised a new and useful trousers leg holder which is not only highly efficient and performs a useful purpose, but one which is inexpensive to manufacture, thereby improving the appearanceand dressing of a corpsewithout materially adding to the cost.-

I am aware that the invention maybe embodied in other specific forms without departing'from thespirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the presentembodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2- 1. In a device of the character stated, an elongated form, convex on its upper surface, and adapted to fit over the legand thigh "of a corpse, saidform being relatively rigid throughout its longest axis, and clips on the front of said form'for securing said form to the ankle of said corpse.

2. In a device of the character stated, an elongated tapering padded form, convex on its upper surface and concave at its bottom surface, and adapted to fit over the leg and thigh of a corps-e said form being relatively rigid throughout its extent, re nforcements for the edges of sald form and spring clips at the front end of the latter for securing said padto the ankle of said corpse.

VILLIAM H. STRINGFIELD. 

